Cyclists take to area roads this weekend for Oak Ridge Velo Classic

The fifth annual Oak Ridge Velo Classic bicycle racing event will take place at a variety of local venues Saturday and Sunday.

The fifth annual Oak Ridge Velo Classic bicycle racing event will take place at a variety of local venues Saturday and Sunday.

The event includes the Tennessee State Road Races all day Saturday. The Road Races are on a challenging course "that traverses scenic sections of rural Anderson County, time trial races are on Saturday evening on Bear Creek Road, and criterium races are at Horizon Center on Sunday," a release stated.

All after-expense revenues will be donated to the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge -- a nonprofit organization staffed primarily by volunteers who offer free medical services to those who don't have insurance and cannot afford to pay for medical services due to their income level. "In less than three years of existence, the Clinic has served more than 2,500 patients," the release stated.

As in past years, the Oak Ridge Velo Classic is expected to attract hundreds of competitors from not only Tennessee, but throughout the Southeast and the nation. In past years, competitors have traveled from as far away as California.

Top regional competitors expected to compete in this year's event include former Olympian Kent Bostick, National Masters competitor Dirk Pohlmann and Oak Ridge resident Jon Crowson, who has won some big races this season.

Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains Elite Cycling (captained by John Hart, overall champion in the inaugural Oak Ridge Velo Classic) and Team Belladium, a women's team from Nashville, are just two of the many elite teams that will be trying to capture championships this weekend.

The event is sanctioned by both the Tennessee Bicycle Racing Association and USA Cycling.

For a race schedule and course maps, please contact Lou Rabinowitz at loubikes@gmail.com.